Gay activists welcome President nod

By Marc Shoffman • December 20, 2006 - 0:00

Mr Bush gave the bill his approval yesterday, making it law

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Gay activists have praised US President George W Bush after he approved the Ryan White CARE Act this week.

The Act provides medical and psychosocial services to people living with HIV/AIDS, it is named after a boy who was expelled from school for having AIDS, and dedicated his life to helping sufferers and proving that it is not a 'gay disease.'

Mr Bush gave the bill his approval yesterday, making it law.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, described the legislation as a "critical lifeline" for sufferers.

He said: "We are pleased that a bipartisan Congress and the president were able to come together and agree on the reauthorisation of the Ryan White CARE Act and officially sign it into law today.

"This critical lifesaving piece of legislation will help over a half million low-income Americans living with HIV/AIDS continue to receive the medical care they so desperately need."

However, Mr Solmonese warned that Congress would have to be pushed on providing more funding for the programme.

It marks a good week for Mr Bush's relations with the gay community after the President welcomed the pregnancy of Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of US Vice President Dick Cheney

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